UNESCO's Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education entered into force in March 2023, and as of December 2025, 39 states have ratified it.

Stig Arne Skjerven is the first elected Chair of this Convention, and for over a decade, he has been instrumental in establishing and implementing this first UN normative instrument in higher education.

The conversation addresses what the Global Recognition Convention is, the principles behind it, why it matters, and how its adoption can modernize admission practices for higher education institutions worldwide.